Fluorescein redirects a ruthenium-octaarginine conjugate to the nucleus.

ABSTRACT: The cellular uptake and localization of a Ru-octaarginine conjugate with and without an appended fluorescein are compared. The inherent luminescence of the Ru(II) dipyridophenazine complex allows observation of its uptake without the addition of a fluorophore. Ru-octaarginine-fluorescein stains the cytosol, nuclei, and nucleoli of HeLa cells under conditions where the Ru-octaarginine conjugate without fluorescein shows only punctate cytoplasmic labeling. At higher concentrations, however, Ru-octaarginine without the fluorescein tag does exhibit cytoplasmic, nuclear, and nucleolar staining. Attaching fluorescein to Ru-octaarginine lowers the threshold concentration required for diffuse cytoplasmic labeling and nuclear entry. Hence, the localization of the fluorophore-bound peptide cannot se

SUBMITTER: Puckett CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2747598 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature